Understanding the Words: Arrant, Errand, Errant

These three words may sound the same, but they have different meanings. Let’s learn about each word, its history, and how to use it right.

Arrant

History: “Arrant” comes from old English and means something complete or extreme.

Use: We use “arrant” to show strong feelings about something not so good or very wrong.

• He is an arrant liar; nothing he says is true.
• The movie was an arrant waste of time.
• She was caught in an arrant act of stealing.
• The book is an arrant masterpiece of nonsense.
• His behavior in class was arrant nonsense.

Trick: Think of “A” in “Arrant” as “All” to mean “all bad” or “extremely bad”.

Errand

History: “Errand” comes from a word that means a short trip or job outside the house.

Use: We use “errand” to talk about a task or job, like going to the store.

• She went to the post office to run an errand.
• I have an errand to run before dinner.
• He asked his brother to do him a quick errand.
• Mom sent us on an errand to buy milk.
• They finished all their errands in the morning.

Trick: Remember “Errand” and “End” both have “E”, think of running an errand to get tasks to an end.

Errant

History: “Errant” comes from a word meaning to wander or go wrong.

Use: We use “errant” to talk about something that is not where it should be or not doing what it should do.

• The errant sports team lost the game.
• The errant child wandered away from his home.
• The errant student ignored the classroom rules.
• The cat chased an errant mouse into the garden.
• The errant ball broke the window.

Trick: Imagine “Errant” as “Error,” to think of something going wrong or astray.

Summary

“Arrant” means extremely bad. “Errand” is a task or short trip. “Errant” is something wandering or wrong. Use these tricks: “Arrant” is “All bad,” “Errand” ends tasks, “Errant” is like an “Error.”